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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Murray (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Murray. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Murray is located in Lexington County.

To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Lexington County: Aiken, Calhoun, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland & Saluda.

Below are the counties that are near Murray. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Murray:

  • Lexington County     (The home county of Murray)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
    • Clubhouse Crossroads
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Clubhouse Crossroads is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clubhouse Crossroads
    • Summit
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Summit is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 486 people
    • Gilbert
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Fredonia
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Fredonia is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
    • Lake Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Lake Village is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Village
    • Leesville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ella
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Ella is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ella
    • Batesburg - Leesville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Batesburg - Leesville is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batesburg - Leesville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,402 people
    • Batesburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lexington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Red Bank
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Red Bank is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bank
    • Oak Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Oak Grove is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Chapin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Chapin is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,664 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chapin <1>
  • Aiken County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
    • Monetta
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Seivern
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Seivern is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seivern
    • Camp Rawls
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Camp Rawls is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Rawls
    • Wagener
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Perry
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Kitchings Mill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Kitchings Mill is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kitchings Mill
      • Kitchings Mill has also been known as:
      • Kinchens Mill
    • Eureka
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Eureka is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
    • Salley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Nicholson Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Nicholson Village is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholson Village
  • Edgefield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
    • Johnston
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Trenton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Fairfield County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
    • Jenkinsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Rock Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Rock Hill is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock Hill
    • Monticello
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Monticello is located in Fairfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monticello
    • Rion
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Lancaster County
  • Newberry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
    • Little Mountain
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Slighs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Slighs is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slighs
    • Stoney Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Stoney Hill is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Hill
    • Prosperity
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Peak
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Peak is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peak
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Peak <1>
    • Pomaria
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Union
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Union is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Union
    • Silverstreet
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Sondleys ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Sondleys is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sondleys
    • Helena
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Helena is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena
    • Newberry
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Old Town Ferry
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Old Town Ferry is located in Newberry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town Ferry
    • Smyrna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Orangeburg County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
    • Woodford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodford is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 169 people
    • North
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • North is located in Orangeburg County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 699 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for North <1>
  • Richland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
    • Lake Murray of Richland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Ballentine
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • White Rock
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Dutch Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Dutch Village is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutch Village
    • Saint Andrews
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Saint Andrews is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Andrews
    • Columbia
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Hollywood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Hollywood is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
    • Cedar Creek
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedar Creek is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
    • Arthurtown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Arthurtown is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthurtown
    • Belmont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Forest Acres
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Forest Acres is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Acres
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,269 people
    • Valencia Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Valencia Heights is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valencia Heights
    • Brickyard Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Brickyard Village is located in Richland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Village
  • Saluda County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.
    • Ridge Spring
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ward
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Hickory Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hickory Grove is located in Saluda County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Grove
    • Saluda
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Murray, see our County-by-County Page for Murray.

Cemeteries Near Murray ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Murray.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Murray - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Murray covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.

  • St. James Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • First Baptist Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Lightner - Christian Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Old Salem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Sease Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Derrick Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Banks Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Risinger Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Hendrix Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • St. James Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Warren Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (336 more) ...
    • Banks Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Boatwright Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bethlehem Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>

While we didn't find Murray in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Murray.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Murray, with the one closest to Murray listed first.

  • Summit
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Summit is located in Lexington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 486 people
  • Fredonia
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Fredonia is located in Lexington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredonia
  • Leesville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Ella
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Ella is located in Lexington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ella
  • Batesburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Samaria
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Samaria is located in Lexington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samaria
  • Monetta
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Spring Hill
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Spring Hill is located in Lexington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Hill
  • Ridge Spring
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Ballentine
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • White Rock
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Chapin
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Chapin is located in Lexington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,664 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Chapin <1>
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Seivern
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Seivern is located in Aiken County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seivern
    • Arthur
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Arthur is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthur
    • Leaphart
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Leaphart is located in Lexington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leaphart

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Murray. See our List of 1890's Communities around Murray.

Newspapers Published in Murray ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Murray.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Murray, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Murray.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Murray:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<3>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Murray, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Murray) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.